UFC middleweight Alan Belcher is a pretty easy-going guy from the South, spending time training hard and teaching others rather than self-promoting or spewing smack. However, Belcher’s demeanor has changed some in relation to the next man he’ll lock horns with inside the Octagon – Michael Bisping.

The brash Brit is as polarizing as they come in the UFC, winning many over with his skill and wit while turning an equal number of people off with his attitude, love of talking trash, and occasional instances of poor sportsmanship. Currently, Belcher finds himself somewhere in the middle of the two opposing groups based on his appreciation for Bisping’s toughness and disdain for the way “The Count” carries himself.

“I think that he is a tough guy – that’s one of his best things. He’s got a lot of heart,” said Belcher of Bisping in an interview with Fighters.com. “Skill-wise…I’ll try to be respectful when I say it, but he doesn’t have a lot of great skills. He is well-rounded, he out-works people, and he knows how to play the point game. That’s the hardest thing about Bisping. I haven’t fought an opponent like him.”

Though Belcher may not be concerned about Bisping stopping him with strikes or scoring a submission, “The Talent” is definitely aiming to end his adversary’s evening before scorecards come into play.

“It’s a little bit personal,” Belcher admitted. “I plan on finishing the fight as fast as I can.”

“Even throughout this whole thing, I’ve tried to point out the things I respect about Bisping,” elaborated Belcher on his mindset. “But I think as a person he’s a jerk. He’s pulled some stunts inside and outside the Octagon that have made people not like him and not respect him. I think he needs to be beat, and I can’t be beat by someone like that. I’m going to beat him, and I’m going to try to hurt him.”

Belcher-Bisping are set to square off on April 27 at UFC 159. Both are coming off recent defeats but had put together respectable runs leading up to the losses. The 18-7 Belcher has finished sixteen of the foes he’s felled, including Rousimar Palhares and Patrick Cote, while Bisping is 23-5 in his career with notable past victories over Yoshihiro Akiyama, Chris Leben, and Brian Stann.